Manual valve bodies

[paddyp]

I know some people here have manual valve bodies in their trannies, what I want to know is, do they all give you compression braking? I know Art Carr makes a manual valve body for the TH400 that gives you comp. braking, but is that the only option? What are some experiences w/ manually shifted TH400s and TF727s?

[Cliff]

I have a manual valve body 727 in a drag car. I don't know what "compression braking" is, but I sure like the manual valve body.

[rockcandy]

IIRC, a manual valve body does not give you "compression braking". It only gives you the gear selection of your choice, at any time in an auto. IF you want good compression braking in an auto, you have to get the torque converter to lock up at very very low rpm's. I think you can get a manual lockup somewhere......

[Frank in Norway]

It will give you better compression braking than a regular valve body. This is because it won't shift out of 1st like the stock one will.

[GaWag]

I have a manual valve body in my TF727. I do get some compression braking. A lot more than a standard valve body. It is not however as good as a manual trnsmission. I do highly recommend it for Offroading. I love mine. I do also have a 1200 stall converter. I'm sure this helps some too.

[rockcandy]

Originally posted by Frank in Norway:
It will give you better compression braking than a regular valve body. This is because it won't shift out of 1st like the stock one will.When I put mine in first, it doesn't leave first. I have decent compression braking but nothing like I had in my CJ with a manual. I do not have a manual valve body.

[Frank in Norway]

My TH400 did not hold 1st before I converted to a manual valve body.
I thought all automatic vavlebodies allowed the transmission to upshift when it reach a certain speed

[full_hydro]

some manual valve bodies have more compression braking than other manual valve bodies... i think that's his question..

I believe ArtCarr makes two versions of the th400 mvbody one of which has more compression braking.. this has been covered on pirate before..

[Robber80]

my 727 doesn't shift out of first. also what is the lowest stall converter you can get?? and how hard is it to intall a manual valve body??

[rockcandy]

I still think some of you are misunderstanding what a manual valvebody is...

[Stuka]

All a manual valve body does it keep the trans from shifting on its own. You have to manually shift it. On the HWY you will be treating it like a manual, but with no clutch. Go to a stop, put it in 1st, then go up through the gears, slowing down you go down through the gears. Just about every auto I have driven has always held first if you put it in 1t. If its in drive, then it will shift up and down through them on its own.

As for compression braking. I am not sure how a manual valve body is going to change the way the torque converter transfers power. A manual compression brakes better because the engine is locked to the input of the trans. A non-lockup auto is not, so the trans is permitted to spin faster then the engine when going down a hill. Some braking is there, just not much. I know some like to convert lockup style transmissions like the 700r4 to a manual lockup, so at the push of a button they can lock the converter. So it will brake like a manual more or less. Although you need deeper axle gears or low range, as the first gears in most autos is pretty sad. Like driving a manual with a 2.5:1 1st gear. While a granny 4sp will have the braking of a 6:1 or so first gear.

[Robber80]

i know actuactly waht a manual valve body is, i'm just not sure how to install one.